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I'd be ecstatic with Ekblad.
Super happy with Bennet or Reinhart.
Happy with a noticeable shrug with Dal Colle, Draisatl.
Unhappy, but not surprised, with Virtanen. Doesn't he just scream "Oiler" to you?

I'd be ecstatic with Ekblad.
Super happy with Bennet or Reinhart.
Happy with a noticeable shrug with Dal Colle, Draisatl.
Unhappy, but not surprised, with Virtanen. Doesn't he just scream "Oiler" to you?

TBH at his size and weight with those pims I'm guessing he's a bit like Gilbert Brule. A small guy who played like a power forward in junior and really needs to play more like a pacifist in the nhl if he wants to stay healthy.

I'm not all about drafting by size but that guy needs to weigh 225, not 180, to play like that in the nhl.

TBH at his size and weight with those pims I'm guessing he's a bit like Gilbert Brule. A small guy who played like a power forward in junior and really needs to play more like a pacifist in the nhl if he wants to stay healthy.

I'm not all about drafting by size but that guy needs to weigh 225, not 180, to play like that in the nhl.

6'1" 210lbs. = play like a ***** or get killed in the NHL? Is this the same Virtanen that I'm thinking of?

6'1" 210lbs. = play like a ***** or get killed in the NHL? Is this the same Virtanen that I'm thinking of?

Was about to post the same thing. ISS has him at 213. Add to that the fact he is one of the youngest players in the draft (doesn't turn 18 until mid August) and may not be done growing, and it's not a stretch to suggest he plays at 220-225 by the time he is NHL ready.

Was about to post the same thing. ISS has him at 213. Add to that the fact he is one of the youngest players in the draft (doesn't turn 18 until mid August) and may not be done growing, and it's not a stretch to suggest he plays at 220-225 by the time he is NHL ready.

I've also heard from a lot of WHL fans that he is a bull on skates, very strong on his feet.

I would be very happy coming out of this draft with Virtanen, even if we reached for him. 1D and 2C aren't the only needs on this team. I've seen this team disappear in physical games far too many times the past couple of years to believe that we couldn't use a Benn/E.Kane/Ladd type player.

On a side note, I keep seeing Virtanen listed as C/LW in some places, but I have only seen him play LW and RW. Could anyone who watches the Hitmen a lot chime in on if he is able to play centre at all? Personally, I see his game better suited to the wing, but if he able to play centre as well, that versatility could be pretty valuable.

TBH at his size and weight with those pims I'm guessing he's a bit like Gilbert Brule. A small guy who played like a power forward in junior and really needs to play more like a pacifist in the nhl if he wants to stay healthy.

I'm not all about drafting by size but that guy needs to weigh 225, not 180, to play like that in the nhl.

Our players requesting to be traded are about as ridiculous as your 1-sided deals (the Yandle one is preposterous). There is no quick fixes, period. So expecting to get a Yandle caliber Dman and fix this club in 1 year is high fantasy.

You think Yandle+Korpikoski for Sam Reinhart or Bennett is one sided? Maybe we add a guy like Klefbom, but I personally think both centers have more value then RNH had in the 2011 draft. And the rumored asking price for RNH was Ottawa 6th overall+Erik Karlsson.

Absolutely, but it'll take more than that. It's too bad we can't go back and deal our 1st from 2012

If I were to guess, it would be the pick (which would have to be top 3) + Yak + Petry. That might get them interested enough. Then there'd still be the issue of getting him under contract, which rumours have him asking between 8-9 mil per.

I would be very happy coming out of this draft with Virtanen, even if we reached for him. 1D and 2C aren't the only needs on this team. I've seen this team disappear in physical games far too many times the past couple of years to believe that we couldn't use a Benn/E.Kane/Ladd type player.

On a side note, I keep seeing Virtanen listed as C/LW in some places, but I have only seen him play LW and RW. Could anyone who watches the Hitmen a lot chime in on if he is able to play centre at all? Personally, I see his game better suited to the wing, but if he able to play centre as well, that versatility could be pretty valuable.

I actually like Virtanen but he'd be quite the reach if we're picking top 5 IMO. I'd be pretty unhappy if we took him before any of Ekblad/Reinhart/Bennett/Dal Colle... after those guys you could make a case for any of Nylander/Perlini/Virtanen/Ritchie/Draisatl though I have to admit that Virtanen is probably my least favourite of that list.

Just an aside... but other than Ekblad this might be the weakest draft for dmen in many, many years.

There's Fleury/Honka/McKeown and not a whole lot of other decent looking top D prospects out there.

I think that will contribute as well to Ekblad going #1 with almost 100% certainty... there's such a drop between him and anything else remotely considered to be a #1 or even top pairing type dman in terms of potential.

It looks like a decent/average year for forwards but for Dmen it's pretty mediocre (again when you get past Ekblad and a couple others).

Just an aside... but other than Ekblad this might be the weakest draft for dmen in many, many years.

There's Fleury/Honka/McKeown and not a whole lot of other decent looking top D prospects out there.

I think that will contribute as well to Ekblad going #1 with almost 100% certainty... there's such a drop between him and anything else remotely considered to be a #1 or even top pairing type dman in terms of potential.

It looks like a decent/average year for forwards but for Dmen it's pretty mediocre (again when you get past Ekblad and a couple others).

I wonder if we drop to 5 if McT considers taking Fluery then with how thin the blueline prospects are.